Most of you are probably aware of the Razer brand through their admittedly awesome and phenomenally expensive PC gaming peripherals. Before the end of the year, they'll have a presence in the Android world as well. According to a press release, Razer will be developing its own Android TV product with (of course) a focus on gaming. It's currently planned for release in the fall, which might line it up with the wider Android TV debut.

Razer has been expanding into creating its own gaming hardware as of late, with its Blade laptops and Edge Windows tablet getting impressive feedback from reviewers even with their sky-high price tags. The same hardware team will be making the Android TV device. Based on the company's tendency to over-engineer just about everything, we can assume that they'll be shooting for the "premium" Android TV segment, or possibly creating it. Given the company's deep ties to the PC gaming world, NVIDIA and their shiny Tegra K1 platform would be a natural choice, but there's no mention of hardware specifications so far.

The Razer Android TV device doesn't even have a name yet, they're simply calling it the "micro-console." It looks a lot like an Mac Mini painted black, which makes sense - the Razer Edge laptops are basically Macbooks designed by Batman. It will be interesting to see how Razer's first foray into Android hardware fares.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 25, 2014) - Google I/O 2014 -- Razer™, a provider of connected entertainment devices and software "for gamers, by gamers," announced today plans to create a Razer micro-console. The new device, powered by Android TV, will stream movies, music and other apps for large-screen entertainment with an emphasis on gaming.

Android TV is an entertainment interface that allows users to find and enjoy content on their televisions. The Razer micro-console can be navigated with a special mobile application that operates from any Android tablet or smartphone. Voice control is built into Android TV, leaving access to entertainment just a few words away.

Enhancing the gaming experience on Android devices is a key focus for Razer. Razer's experience in designing high-performance gaming systems, controllers, keyboards and mice will contribute beneficially to the device development. Gaming-related software is also an area Razer knows well. With 9 million active users registered on its platform, the company offers a range of applications for communication, performance optimization, and device personalization.

"This is a console of the future," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "Built on Google's incredible Android TV platform, the Razer micro-console incorporates not only hardcore and casual gaming, but music, movies and other entertainment and social applications, all on an affordable system."

The award-winning Razer design team is developing the Razer micro-console. This same team engineered thin and powerful PC systems, including the Razer Blade and Razer Blade Pro laptops, the Razer Edge gaming tablet and, most recently, the modular PC prototype Project Christine.

Razer previously demonstrated success blending hardware and software together with the Razer Nabu smartband, a 2014 "Best of CES" winning device. Over the past two years, Razer won a combined four official "Best of CES" awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

Comments

Doubt it will be cheap, since Razer's PCs are pricey, but if there's anything that will lend legitimacy to the platform, it's a PC-centric hardware developer at launch. I mean, hey, they're also making a Steam Machine console, so there's that.

Remember Logitech (shudder) and Google TV? This is like the exact opposite of that.

Justin W

Let's start bets at $299.

charles anderson

I seen earlier today it was going to be between 200-250$ I want to say from am official source on endgadget

I bet it's gonna cost like 500$ just because it will have some green leds and logos flashing around the box.

Kevin

$100 or GTFO.

renz

For Razer selling any of their device for cheap will tarnish their premium reputation. Anyway I'd expect the hardware will reflect the device pricing (razor are not the only company making this). but surely you can't expect something with snapdrgon 805 or nvidia K1 will cost for a 100 no matter how limited the device functions are.

Kevin

Maybe tree fiddy?

dragnus

Look at the specs of the Mipad, about 240$. That's including a camera, HD screen and battery that this would not need. So I'm guessing this can probably be sold for 200$ and be profitable, but since it's Razer, probably at the 300 range.

renz

The MiPad is cheap most likely because it is from xiomi. If I remember correctly when they come out with Mi3 they also one of the cheapest phone with snapdragon 800/tegra 4.

Paul

Premium reputation? Pricing reflecting hardware quality?
I've had two mices, one xbox controller from them, all quite above the price range of competitor hardware. Don't get me wrong, Razer's hardware is sleek, has really great features.. but the quality is on par with no-name products. Buttons failing after a few months, wheel's squealing..... surely won't be another product from them again.

renz

i'm not talking about quality. quality or not Razer themselves thought they were premium brand. Remember Razer Blade? a dual core cpu combined with GT555 and they asking premium price for it.

This might actually become something the ouya couldn't, I will be buying it anyway to fiddle with it and develop some games for it

Kevin

Ouya shipped late with an extremely outdated processor, no Google Play Store, horrible UI and high price. It's like they wanted to fail.

renz

Ouya was aiming to build their own ecosystem much like Sony, Nintendo, MS did. They just happen to use android for their operating system of choice. So the absence of google play is to be expected. Also when they kick start the project tegra 3 most likely the only soc that they can pick so they can meet the $99 price target for the device. Sometimes this is the problem with device that get crowd funding. When they propose their project they will pick the hardware that is suitable by the time they start it. But when they start shipping their device are likely to be outdated in term of spec. And right now the tech in mobile did move in rapid pace.

primalxconvoy

Except that... It was android. Android equals either Google Play or GTFO for most people. Amazon succeeded with Kindle fire due to price and the geographic of people (who were not power users). Ouya was mainly early adopters (and thus power users) who wanted more from the system.

renz

i think OUYA was attracted to android openness. just imagine if they try to make their on OS on it. maybe they not even going to pass the kick start.

BruceMcF

But Google Play for a controller oriented device would just have been a different kind of disappointment at launch, and they'd be in worse shape than they are now. At least now with the OUYA Everywhere initiative they have a shot at surviving when their Kickstarter money runs dry.

Milty C

I think Ouya are doing the best they can. Its very hard for a tiny company to compete with tech giants like Google etc. Without a compelling ecosystem its virtually impossible. I still rate Ouya and still play mine, it has improved since the early days.

primalxconvoy

Thanks!

TSK

Really inersested to see how the "L" release works as far as themeing/skinning. I can see Samsung making some sort of Galaxy TV device that throws Touchwiz all over my TV, LG making a Nexus TV with "stock Android TV," and don't forget HTC with "One TV." From the looks of material design it seems that it is going to be hard for OEM's to skin it too much.

Plex will definitely work (it was prominently displayed on the I/O keynote demo), and it should just about cover everything you could want from XBMC and more. (I personally switched my server to Plex from XBMC.)

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

It'll be 500$+, all razer's products are overpriced

TedPhillips

any more details on this unit?

I'm wondering if it will have hdmi passthrough, from the keynote it seemed optional to 'android TV'. (instead of GTV where it was a requirement) If true, with this gaming focus, I'm not especially expecting to see it.

Razer might be expensive, but in exchange you get a beautifully crafted and finely engineered piece of hardware. Build quality matters to a lot of people.

Davis Hernandez

if they are selling it like a console it's pretty much like what happened to ouya, no games no sales they need to add console-like games to android quick (lets be honest the better looking games on android are 99% of the time "hardcore games" with casual gameplay)

primalxconvoy

Except that, with controller support and Google Play, the thing already has oodles more games than ouya (plus many ouya games might work, sideloaded, too). Couple this with "ouya everywhere", media apps and the non-existant to entry, and android gaming just got better.. This will only have a knock-on effect, with more incentive for games to be TV/controller-friendly and for phones, tablets and android pcs or launchers to become more desktop friendly.

Good times!

Davis Hernandez

yeah but the success on this thing will be 90% because of the tegra k1 which will support all of the shield games (including but not limited to portal, mount and blade, half life 2, etc. now that i think about, i wouldnt mind playing some mount and blade on my tv)

wat

The only way this can be good enough and worthy of the investment (future proof for 24 months) is if it has 64 bit Tegra K1, AT LEAST 3GB of RAM but ideally 4 to keep up with the potential quality of games and 64GB of ROM, expandable.